AN- Thanks to Southern Chickie, Shady Lady and Spike's Girl for their super fast reviews. Its been so long since I updated this that I wasn't sure if anyone would still be reading it! Rest assured Richie does get his memory back. But you didn't think I was going to make it easy for him did you?

***

"Hey. You're awake." A voice, that Richie recognised as Joe's drifted across from the armchair.

"Why do people always say that?" Richie complained, pushing himself up to a sitting position to look at the Watcher. "I mean, if I was still asleep, there'd be no point in talking to me would there?"

A blanket, which hadn't been there before, slipped down, tangling in his legs.

"Someone's still a little cranky." Joe smiled.

"You've been spending too much time with Methos." Richie muttered, extricating himself from the blanket and staring at his stocking feet.

"OK. Where are my shoes?"

"Did you even look in the closet?" Joe rolled his eyes.

"What closet?" Richie scowled at him.

"Oh. Yeah. Sorry kid." Joe pointed. "Mac usually puts them in there."

Richie screwed the blanket up into a ball and stuffed it behind the cushion that had evidently been serving as a pillow.

"Do we play this game a lot?" he sniped.

"What?" Joe looked genuinely confused.

"Why would he want to steal my shoes?"

"You were asleep." Joe pointed out.

"I'd like to see him try it when I was awake." Richie retrieved his shoes and sank back down on the couch to put them on.

"No. I mean .." Joe shook his head. "You fell asleep on the couch, so Mac put you to bed."

Richie stared at him as if he was insane.

"This is a joke right? I'm too old for that."

"That's as maybe." Joe smiled. "But I've seen Mac do the same thing at least a half dozen times in the last month."

"Well, he can't be a very good teacher then." Richie protested.

"Why not?" Joe straightened, ready to defend Duncan's reputation.

"Another Immortal, takes off my shoes, tucks me up in a blanket and puts a pillow under my head .. and I don't so much as crack a eye?" Richie scoffed. "That's gotta be a sure way to loose your head."

"Rich. About you and Mac .." Joe began, just as the elevator whirred into life.

***

"Hey Rich." Duncan greeted him with a smile, as he juggled grocery bags. "You hungry?"

"He'd better be." Methos observed dryly. "Otherwise you've just dragged me round all those shops for nothing."

"You didn't need to come." Duncan observed.

"Someone had to make sure you bought the right sort of beer." Methos started loading bottles into the fridge.

"Is there a wrong sort of beer?" Joe wondered.

"Not enough." Methos smirked. "You want a beer kid?"

"Its kinda early isn't it." Richie observed. "Even for you."

"Rich." Duncan gave him a fond look. "How long have you been asleep?"

"Um." Richie looked in vain for a clock.

"Why don't you go take your shower?" Duncan smiled at him. "And I'll make you some lunch."

"Lunch?" Richie blinked, his eyes finally settling on a small carriage clock on the bookshelves. "Fourteen hours? You're kidding me. No one sleeps for fourteen hours."

"I guess you needed it." Joe said sympathetically. "You've had a rough week."

"Joe." Duncan warned.

"What?" Richie looked from one to the other. "What's going on?"

"I'm making lunch and you are having a shower." Duncan told him.

"You could see if you can wash some of that blood off my jacket whilst you're about it." Methos scowled.

"I don't think leather is exactly washable." Joe observed.

"Tell that to cows." Methos retorted.

"I put some of your stuff in the Bathroom." Duncan continued.

"I have stuff here?" Richie looked pleased.

"Good." Methos gave a satisfied smirk. "I can ruin your jacket."

***

"You look better." Duncan couldn't help but grin. With his hair still damp from the shower Richie looked even younger.

"Yeah. I feel it." Richie licked his plate clean. "I guess even Immortals need sleep huh?"

"That's disgusting." Joe made a face.

"But good." Richie gave a satisfied smile.

"Did you know that in certain Moorish countries..." Methos began.

"No!" Joe and Richie chorused.

"Education is wasted on the young." Methos observed loftily.

"I don't know." Richie smirked. "I figure Amanda could teach me quite a bit."

"What happened to Amanda?" Methos asked.

"You know Amanda." Duncan shrugged. "She comes. She goes."

"She skips town when things get a little too hot for her to handle." Joe murmured.

"Amanda knew?" Duncan realised. "How much did you pay her?"

"Not enough." Richie smirked. "She set him up."

"Oh?" Duncan cast an amused glance in Methos direction.

"Do you really want to go there?" Methos smiled thinly. "I seem to recall an incident in Istanbul where .."

"That's in ma Chronicle?" Duncan said in a strangled voice.

"Please tell me you guys don't write about .." Richie made a face.

"There are guidelines." Joe shifted awkwardly.

"Now that's disgusting." Richie pointed out.

***

Duncan laid the sword on the coffee table and sat back down on the couch next to Richie.

"You sure you want to do this?" he spoke for Richie's ears alone.

Richie eyed the sword warily as if it was a poisonous snake.

"That's it huh?"

"That's it." Duncan acknowledged.

 "So. What? I just pick it up and Kaboom my memory is restored?" Richie looked sceptical.

"Maybe." Duncan hedged.

"Maybe this is too dangerous." Joe looked worried. "He's already started to remember bits and pieces. Why rush it?"

"Now you're cautious?" Methos shook his head. "You couldn't have thought of this before you made him throw up on my shoes?"

"If this is so dangerous." Duncan frowned. "Why did you bring him here for the sword in the first place?"

"Because its his life." Methos shrugged. "He has a right to know who he is."

"Even if it you have no idea what that will do to him?" Joe protested.

"Methos is right." Duncan ran a hand through his hair.

"I am?" Methos looked surprised. "I knew that." He told no one in particular.

"It has to be Richie's decision." Duncan pointed out.

"No matter what the risk?" Joe challenged.

"What about the risks of leaving him like he is?" Methos countered. "You think an opponent is going to wait politely while he passes out for a few minutes?"

"Um. Guys?" Richie cut in.

The three of them turned to see Richie already holding the sword.

"I don't think its gonna work." He shrugged.

"Its probably for the best." Joe sighed.

"You know something don't you?" Richie narrowed his eyes. "What do you know?"

***

"He killed me?" Richie had gone very pale. "As in I died?"

"Not permanently." Duncan's quiet confidence was reassuring.

"He must have thought it was his only chance." Joe backtracked. "That means you were winning."

"So, why didn't he take his head?" Methos pointed out.

"The Quickening isn't the only Prize." Richie murmured.

"Richie. You OK?" Duncan put a hand on his shoulder.

"Um. Yeah." Richie jumped up off the couch. "I'm fine."

"Fine?" Duncan narrowed his eyes.

"Is there any coffee?" Richie fled towards the kitchen.

"Sorry." Joe waved a mug. "I finished it. You'll have to make some fresh."

"I'll do it." Duncan started towards him.

"No!" Richie spoke sharply. Then took a breath. "No. That's OK. I've got it."

He headed towards the freezer and pulled out the coffee beans. He was busy with the grinder when he looked up to see Duncan, Methos and Joe staring at him.

"What?" he asked warily.

"Richie." Duncan asked carefully. "How did you know where to find the beans?"

Joe hadn't thought it was possible for anyone to get any paler. But apparently it was.

"I don't know." For the first time since this whole nightmare had begun Richie looked truly frightened.

"Richie .." Duncan tooks a step towards him.

"No. Look. Just don't. OK? Please?" Richie pleaded.

His eyes darted around for some means of escape. His sword.

"Look. I'm .. just gonna go practise or something." He forced a smile. "You wouldn't want me to get sloppy or anything would you?"

Duncan didn't drop his gaze. But he stepped back in permission.

Richie seized the sword gratefully and headed towards the stairs.

"Richie." Duncan's voice stopped him. "Don't try to run from this. I don't want to have to come looking for you. Understand?"

"And not all battles must be fought alone." Methos murmured.

"Yeah. Richie swallowed. "I kinda got that." He gave them a wan smile. "Can I go downstairs if I promise to take my ball of twine?"

"Downstairs is fine." Duncan gave him a thin smile. "Don't leave the Dojo."

"Poor kid." Joe sympathised. "Its only natural that he's scared that he's never gonna remember stuff."

Duncan and Methos exchanged a glance.

"Are you gonna tell him or shall I?" Methos asked.

"Joe." Duncan sighed. "Richie isn't frightened that he might not remember anything. He's afraid that we might discover what he already knows."